Spirit, Spirit of Gentleness

This is a gentle folk-style hymn of petition to the Holy Spirit.    It is sometimes called “Spirit Song".

It was written by American United Church of Christ minister and teacher, James (Jim) Keith Manley (b 1940) in 1975 when he was a theology student.  It was originally released in a compilation titled Spirit, which was issued on cassette with an accompanying book in 1980.

Hymn-books which it has been published in include:

• Songs for a New Creation (1982) 
• After Eden (1990) - where it is set to an arrangement by American composer Jim Strathdee (b. 1941)
• Voices United:  The Hymn and Worship Book of The United Church of Canada

It is set to tune by Manley, which is sometimes called SPIRIT. This has a 3/4 time signature. In the key of D, the first few notes of the melody are F_ G_ E F G G FF_ with accompanying chords D / G / A / D.

Image adapt. from PxHere - CC0

Downloads

This section may contain affiliate links: I earn from qualifying purchases on these. Free downloads are provided where possible (eg for public domain items).

SATB choir arrangement with piano and saxophone or clarinet, by Michael Hassell

Examples

Singer with piano:

Choir with piano:

Small group with piano - words on-screen:

Singer with guitar - words on-screen:

Choir and congregation with organ - recorded in a church-service:

Singer with piano:

Instrumental - with on-screen score:

Instrumental - with words on-screen:

Lyrics

The lyrics are copyright so cannot be reproduced here. But they are currently available on this website. A rough outline is:

Chorus:
Spirit, Spirit of gentleness,
blow through the wilderness
calling and free,
Spirit, Spirit of restlessness,
stir me from placidness,
wind, wind on the sea.

1.  You moved on the waters, you called to the deep ...

2.  You swept through the desert, you stung with the sand ...

3.  You sang in a stable, you cried from a hill ...

4.  You call from tomorrow, you break ancient schemes ....

See more ...

• Hymns about the Holy Spirit
• Folk-style hymns

KEEP IN CASE ORIGINAL IS REMOVED, BUT DO NOT DISPLAY Chorus:

Spirit, Spirit of gentleness,
blow through the wilderness
calling and free,
Spirit, Spirit of restlessness,
stir me from placidness,
wind, wind on the sea.

1. You moved on the waters,
you called to the deep,
then you coaxed up the mountains
from the valleys of sleep;
and over the eons you called to each thing:
“Awake from your slumbers
and rise on your wings.”

2 You swept through the desert,
you stung with the sand,
and you goaded your people
with a law and a land;
and when they were blinded with idols and lies,
then you spoke through your prophets
to open their eyes.

3. You sang in a stable,
you cried from a hill,
then you whispered in silence
when the whole world was still;
And down in the city you called once again,
when you blew through your people
on the rush of the wind.

4 You call from tomorrow,
you break ancient schemes.
From the bondage of sorrow
all the captives dream dreams;
our women see visions,
our men clear their eyes.
With bold new decisions your people arise.